Typewriter frame structure



` y 11, 1954 R. SMITH 2578423 TYPEWRITER FRAME STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 29, 1952 Patented May 11, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITER FRAME STRUCTURE Raymond L. Smith, Arlington, Va.

Application February 29, 1952, Serial No. 274413 1 Clam. l

?he present invention relates to a typewriter frame structure and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts her-ein described and claimed.

The present invention is a continuation in part of the invention disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 851 68, filed April 6, 1%9, and since issued as Patent No. 2,587,778, dated March 4, 1952 and in my prior application Serial No. 223373, filed May l, 1951 and since issued as Patent No. 2,59l,3l0, dated April 1, 1952, the latter forming a continuation in part of the aforesaid application, Serial No. 85,758. In the prior applications, it will be noted that the first and second rows of keys are each provided with key levers having U-shaped key clearance portions and it has been found that when a typewriter so equipped is mounted upon a conventional typewriter pad that the U-shaped key clearance portions sometimes come into contact with the upper face of such pad. Accordingly, it is a prime object of the present invention to provide a guard member which may be quickly and easily attached to the frame of a typewriter of the character above set forth and which guard member will assure clearance for the aforesaid U-shaped key clearance portions at all times and particularly when a typewriter pad or cushion is utilized with a typewriter of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and eficiert in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a device oi the character set forth, means whereby pencils and like objects are automatically prevented from becoming positioned atop 'said guard.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nove! guard member having means for the prevention of interierence with the key levers of typewrter by the conventionai typewriter pad.

Other and further objects of'the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of an embodiment of the invention shown mounted upon a typewriter of the character above set forth and. showing such typewriter in position upon a flat supporting surface,

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 but showing the typewriter with a supportin pad positioned between the same and its supporting fiat surface,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly broken away, taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of a de /ice embodying the present invention, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Figure 2 but showing a modified form the invention may assume.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a typewriter frame I& provided with dependent supporting feet il having undercoverings of yieldable material, as indicated at !2, such structure being conventional.

The typewriter is shown as having four rows of keys, namely a first row generally indicated at !3, a second row generally indicated at lt, a third row generally indicated at !5 and a fourth row generally indicated at 16.

The keys in the first and second rows 13 and ld of the keys in the typewriter are provided with key levers having U-shaped key ciearance portions l'l and it will be apparent that when any key in the first row !3 or second row i i of such keys is depressed in conventional manner that the bottom of its associated U-shaped key clearance portion H will reach a point in close proximity to, for example, a fiat supporting surface [3. In Figure 2 there is shown interposed between the surface !B and the typewriter a conventicnal pad I 9 of yieldable materia-l such as rubber or the like which is conventional in character. The present invention is particularly designed to guard against interference with the U-shaped portion i? by the upper surface of such pad !9.

Accordingly, there is provided a guard member which is generally indicated at ?fil and which is provided with an elongated transversely extending bight portion 2| and bifurcated end portors 22 each having a notch 23 therein. The frame i il has integrally formed upon the inner face of each side thereof a. screw-receiving collar 25 for the reception therein of a headed screw 26.

The upper or top face of the bight portion 2! of the guard 20 is provided with a convex forward portion 21 from which extends a generaliy downwardly and rearwardly extending portion 28, as clearly seen in Figures 1, 2 and 4 and it will be apparent that there is on the outer face of each bfurcated end portion a recess 24 which provides a shoulder 29 in each of the end portions 22.

In that form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5 the upper or top face 30 of the bight portion 2! is fiat in nature and extends down- Wardly and rearwardly. In both forms of the invention the bight portion 21 of the guarcl 20 is so designed that When the guard is in position upon the typewriter and the typewriter is placed upon the supporting surface [8, there will be a slight clearance 32 between its bottom face 31 and the surface !8 even taking into consideration the compressed condition of the members !2 at such time.

In operation, it will be apparent that the guard za, in both forms of the invention, may be quickly and easily attached to the frame l by mounting the bifurcatecl portions 22 over the screw receiving collars 25 and thereafter thread.- ing the screws 25 inwardly until the heads thereof rigidly secure the guard 20 to the frame li). When this is accomplished, it will be apparent that the lower edges of the frame I!) will abut against the shoulders 29 of the guard 2% thus assuring an exact clearance` between the face 3! and a supporting surface s. The keys in both of the rows [3 and M of the typewriter may then be depressed in conventional manner and it will be apparent' that the lowermost portions of the U-shaped key clearance portions of the key levers, indicated at 33, will now reach a point immediately above the upper surface of the guard member, thus protecting the key levers and particularly such lowermost points 33 from interference from any obstructions which may lie beneath the typewriter frame. In Figure 2,

as aforesaid, the typewriter is shown mounted upon a conventional yieldable pad !9. It is in this condition that the guard member 2@ is most effective since it will be apparent that the conventional feet ll of the typewriter will sink into the pacl iS thus normally allowing the remainder of the pad which lies beneath the portion !1 to interfere with the proper use of the keys in rows l3 and i l. In such case, however, with the guard 28 in position upon the frame w, such interference becomes impossible since the guard member itself will depress that portion of the pad 19 lying thereunder.

In both forms of the invention it will be apparent that such articles as pencils and the like are prevented from accidentally position'ng themselves atop` the bight portion Zi of the guard 2& due to the fact that the upper faces thereof present no surface upon which such an article may rest. This structure also assures against obstructions lying below the critical portions 33 of the first and second rows of keys.

While but two forms of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is: i

In combination, a typewriter having a frame, keys and key levers for said keys, a guard member extending transversely between the sides of the typewriter frame and beneath the lowernost portions of the key levers, said guard member having a bight portion and turned up biiurcated end portions, each of said. end portions being recessed on its outer face and providing a shoulder engageable with the under edge of a side of the frame, and a fastening element for releasably securing each bifurcated end portion of the guard member to a side of the frame, said bight portion having a bottom face engageable with the typewriter pacl upon the typewriter being supported thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,564329 Dobson Dec. 8, 1925 1,951,l53 Stickney Mar. 20, 1934 

